Minutes of March 4, 2009

Chairman Steve Hamilton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present, in addition to the chairman, were members Keith Martin, Ann Sweet, and Bob Switzer. Absent were Michelle Degree, Joe Fitzpatrick and Dave Jakway. Cheryl Labadie represented the selectmen. Barry Grass came to express his interest in joining the planning board. He will be sworn in by the selectmen March 9.

Minutes of the meeting of February 4, 2009, were accepted as distributed.

Workshop noticesSWRPC will hold workshops on March 28 to provide training regarding the newly released Innovative Land Use Guide.

Resignation of Chairman Steve HamiltonChairman Hamilton circulated a letter of resignation, praising his colleagues throughout the town and citing the need for better balance professionally and personally in his life. He promised to return to public service one day. He will open the April 1 meeting of the planning board to conduct election of his successor.

Resignation of Keith MartinMr. Martin passed around a letter of resignation declaring his continuing frustration with failed enforcement of town regulations. He cited four cases:

A&L Trucking’s failure to abide by the Board of Adjustment’s judgment that his business could not continue without site plan review. (2000)

The Paquette wood processing plant operation in violation of the Board of Adjustment’s denial of requests for special exception. (2008)

The Csenge business refusal to apply for site plan review approval. (2004)

The incomplete closing of the Kinson gravel pit. (2000)

Selectman Labadie pointed that the first two issues are in court, the third will be referred to the town attorney, and the gravel pit issue needs more information.

Energy conservationMrs. Sweet reported that a group of interested Sullivan citizens had met February 25 with Sarah Harpster of Cool Monadnock to discuss her analysis of fuel and electricity usage in 2005 by town departments. The group agreed to meet with the selectmen after town meeting to discuss creation of a formal energy advisory committee which would look into ways of conserving energy and saving taxpayer money in the town of Sullivan.